Who are the 50 wealthiest members of Congress?
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Who are the 50 wealthiest members of Congress?
Congressional newspaper “The Hill” has released its fourth-annual list of the wealthiest lawmakers.
Texas Rep. Michael McCaul tops the list for the second year in a row. He reported a minimum net worth of $290.5 million for 2011 — that’s up $3 million from 2010. The bulk of McCaul’s wealth comes from family trusts, according to the Washington publication.
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. John Kerry is No. 2 on the list. He has a reported net worth of at least $198.8 million for 2011. Kerry topped the list in 2009 and 2010. Much of Kerry’s net worth is due to his wife’s holdings in the Heinz Ketchup fortune.
In third place is California Rep. Darrell Issa with at least $140.6 million reported in 2011.
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Two people managed to crack into the top 50 of this year’s list. Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree clocked in at No. 12 with a reported $31.8 million from 2011 and Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, No. 22, reported $14.5 million from last year.
Republicans take up 31 of 50 spots on the list. Thirty-one lawmakers on the list are House members while 19 are senators.
Not on the list? Presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan. The Wisconsin representative reported having at least a net worth of $2.2 million. “The Hill” says that’s a modest sum among members of Congress.
The publication said it reviewed lawmakers’ 2011 calendar year financial disclosure forms to generate the rankings, noting that: “Lawmakers do not have to report exact figures for their assets and liabilities on the forms, instead providing the values in ranges.”
Check out the full list of the 50 wealthiest lawmakers above. Read more about the list from “The Hill.”
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